Stormy Weather

Blizzards and Avalanches

Do loud noises trigger avalanches?

The notion that making loud noises, such as shouting or clapping one’s hands, near dangerous snow conditions will trigger an avalanche is an old myth. Actually, it would take a tremendous sound, such as a nearby sonic boom where an avalanche is about to occur anyway, for noise to make a difference. In 90 percent of cases, avalanches are precipitated by a person’s or persons’ weight, or the weight of a snowmobile or other machine, on top of unstable snow.